Anderson, Charleston Southern and North Greenville universities are reporting record enrollments this fall, with the combined student population at the three schools topping 8,400.
A recent tradition at Anderson University has the members of the freshman class say goodbye to their parents and pass beneath the school’s welcome arch as they gather on the lawn of the iconic administration hall.Enrollment at each of the three South Carolina Baptist Convention-affiliated universities has grown steadily over the last decade.
Anderson University reported a total fall enrollment of 2,727, with more than 620 new students. Charleston Southern’s enrollment was 3,298, and new students totaled 1,063. North Greenville reported 640 new students and a total student body enrollment of 2,430.
AU: Mobile learning
Move-in weekend at Anderson University featured a school tradition: a matriculation worship service on Sunday morning followed by the ceremonial walk through the campus entrance arch as students said goodbye to their parents and hello to their new home.
However, something new for freshmen arrived a few days later when each member of the class received a brand-new iPad 2. School president Evans Whitaker said the device is a mobile learning tool to “harness the campus-wide availability of the Internet with its growing academic resources and putting them in the hands of forward-thinking professors and digitally savvy students.”
The iPad, one part of the university’s Mobile Learning Initiative, is a “take-anywhere tool that will likely transform the way we teach and the way our students learn,” Whitaker said.
The iPad will allow students to carry all of their textbooks for the entire semester on a device that weighs slightly more than a pound. “They very definition of ‘book’ is being redefined,” said art professor Nathan Cox, one of the faculty leaders behind MLI.
CSU: Growing pains
During “Grace Awakening,” a three-day student event to kick off the fall semester, 50 Charleston Southern University students were baptized.With resident student population at full capacity, approximately 50 upperclassmen at Charleston Southern University are being housed at the Wyndham by Wingate hotel on the CSU campus.
“We are extremely excited,” said Debbie Williamson, vice president for enrollment management. “Charleston Southern continues to grow at a steady pace.”
University president Jairy Hunter attributed the continued growth of the university to the commitment by faculty and staff to provide academic excellence in a Christian environment.
The university has completed the second phase of a $16-million project to renovate the residence halls. Also, construction continues on Legacy Lane, a new brick paving project that enhances the reflection pond at the center of campus, and on the new Christian Leadership Building.
During “Grace Awakening,” a three-day student event that kicks off the semester with worship and live music, more than 50 students were baptized.
NGU: Campus excitement
“We are excited about another record enrollment, but what thrills my heart the most is the number of decisions for Christ that have been made on our campus.” said North Greenville president Jimmy Epting.
More than 180 first-time decisions, rededications and commitments to full-time Christian service have been recorded. The decisions were made at Centrifuge and M-Fuge camps during the summer and, since the start of school, during the annual campus crusade and chapel services.
Campus housing is near capacity, with 1,506 residential students this semester.
During the week prior to the beginning of the fall semester, North Greenville University president Jimmy Epting rolled up his sleeves alongside other administrative and faculty members to get the campus spruced up.This fall, the university will open the Craft/Hemphill World Evangelism, Missions, and Christian Worldview Center and the Todd Prayer Chapel. The Christian Worldview Center will house the Center for Church Planting and Revitalization (CPR) which will host conferences on church planting and revitalization and enable NGU students to help with revitalization projects. The prayer chapel will be open 24/7 for the prayer needs of the NGU community.
“In spite of a challenging economic environment, God is performing miracles on our campus each and every day,” said Epting.